High Bar & Low Bar Goals
LOW BAR & HIGH BAR GOALS:
I've recently learned about a goal-setting tool that I've used without realizing it.
We all know that if we aim for nothing we will usually hit it.
* But if we only aim low, we will probably not hit high, at least not consistently.
* If we aim too high, and can't reach it, we might get discouraged and simply quit.
* But, if we set a low bar AND a high bar, we will gradually be able to accomplish more on a consistent basis and our low bar will effortlessly rise!
For example: I have only set a low bar for my students- 3 hours per week, the bare minimum to make steady progress. This has made it function as if it were a high bar, which is not helpful psychologically!
HOW TO APPLY:
A daily low bar of 10 minutes keeps practice as a part of daily life, and musical info fresh on the mind.
Also, once you've practiced 10 minutes it's easy to push to 30 minutes so you don't have to make up the time another day. But if the day is crazy and the energy is just not there, the 10 minutes is ok!
Set a daily high bar of 1 hour or more, depending on the student. (Maybe add a little incentive to reach their daily high bar!) This amount of practice, if it's structured and focused practice, has the potential of giving 3x’s! the amount of progress by only doubling the time! If each student only hits their high bar once a week, that extra-productive practice will really add up over the course of a semester!
OUR STUDIO HIGH BAR & LOW BAR:
The low bar beginning OSMS students are required to reach each month (starting their 3rd month) is 12 hours, intermediate students should practice at least 18 hours a month, and the high bar is 20 hours.
If they cannot reach the low bar, you pay the practice penalty fee of $10. This is to help motivate them to stay disciplined, to learn to respect and appreciate the opportunity they have to learn an instrument, and to enable everyone to enjoy the resulting progress and success that only faithful practice can produce!
Whoever hits the hight bar earns a $5 reward on top of their regular prizes!
And best of all, we all get to enjoy the excitement of faster progress and greater mastery of their instrument & songs!
It’s awesome how it also will apply to any good habit you want to make a part of your daily life!
